Beauty & Fashion 

Advertisement

Help! My hair is dull

If your hair is lacking in lustre despite frequent washing, you might be suffering from product build-up. Residue from conditioners and styling products can, literally, collect on your hair and weigh it down, leaving it looking heavy and drab. To banish build-up, try using a clarifying shampoo, which should wash away this excess residue. After you shampoo and condition, try a quick cold-water rinse – there’s nothing especially scientific about this method, but many hair experts swear that it seals the hair cuticles and gives it a natural shine. If that doesn’t do the trick, try a volumising shampoo with a light conditioner – enough to smooth and coat the cuticle, but not so much that it weighs down your hair.

Avoid leave-in conditioners at least until you’re happy with the way your hair looks again. The best conditioners for limp hair are ones that contain protein because they’ll help give your hair a little volume. Avoid all products containing silicone, oils or lanolin, as well as two-in-one products, heavy gels and pomades. Spray-on shine products work well, but remember, less is more. For a serious case of dull, lifeless hair try a colourless gloss or consult your hairdresser about other options.

When you blow-dry your hair, use the lowest temperature setting possible and a large, vented, round brush. Bend over so your hair hangs towards the floor and dry the roots first, pulling hair away from the roots. A little mousse or hairspray applied to the roots can also give your hair more ‘lift’. If you’re really desperate, consider getting a short to shoulder-length cut because shorter hair looks fuller than longer hair.

Why not chat to other iVillagers about hair on the Hair Care message board. Take a look at some of the LIVE discussions happening now on the board:

Delicious     Digg     reddit     Facebook     StumbleUpon

  Get the latest iVillage news on your desktop    Sign up for more iVillage RSS feeds

© iVillage Limited 2000-2008. All rights reserved. | © iVillage inc. 1995-2008. All rights reserved.
iVillage Ltd is a UK company registered in England & Wales (3837269) at 80-110 New Oxford Street, London WC1 1HB